Planting Science - Members: View: Char Farfadet
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Char Farfadet

Profile

  • Time Zone
    Central

  • Gender
    Non-binary Trans (They/Them)

  • Organization
    Texas A&M University

  • Employment Status
    University / College Graduate Student

  • Role
    Scientist Mentor: I will mentor teams of students online

  • Research Interests (300 words)
    I study the broader relationships between humans and plants, called "ethnobotany". Specifically, I focus on the ancient peoples of the Chihuahuan desert borderlands, and their consumptive habits (food and medicine) linked to plants, and how this pertains to human-plant relationships throughout southern North America and Central America.

    I examine human relationships with plants in this broader region using various archaeobotanical and laboratory techniques, combined with comparative analyses to identify and quantify species. I also do field work, mostly consisting of botanical and ecological surveys for comparative analysis with archaeological remains, and ethnographic research with present-day Indigenous peoples.

    I aim to bridge the gaps in time, and collaborate with present day Indigenous and Tejano communities along the border in Texas and northern Mexico, in order to revitalize and better understand plant use, and address health and dietary problems plaguing these communities today.

  • Do you have previous experience in mentorship or educational outreach? Please list here (200 words)
    I am a professional member of the Botanical Society of America (BSA), Society of Ethnobiology (SoE), The Society for Ethnobotany (SEB), The Council of Texas Archaeologists (CTA), and the Texas Archaeological Society (TAS).

    I am also a current student board member for the Society of Ethnobotany. I have mentored students in Flowering Plant Diversity, an advanced plant systematics course at McGill University. I also mentor undergraduate students paired with me in my department, as a graduate mentor, and serve on the student committee for the anthropological graduate student society as the archaeology track representative. I also have served at a teaching assistant for a variety of anthropological and archaeological courses at Texas A&M University, and have done community outreach events for kids and adults through my labs in the department.

    I also teach a comprehensive global folklore (and special effects makeup and prosthetic building and improv acting and costuming skills) class annually condensed into a month at a medieval-themed summer camp, ages 7-16.

  • Which of the following best describes your career stage?
    Graduate Student

  • Profile Question 1
    What is your favorite plant? Why?

  • Answer the question you selected for profile question 1 here (300 words):
    My favorite plant is likely Dermatophyllum secundiflorum (Texas Mountain Laurel or Mescal Bean), a member of the bean family, Fabaceae. It has a range from central Texas, further south and west and into northern Mexico. Traditionally, it has been used as a entheogen (sacred medicine) by peoples throughout its range, and beyond, via trade. However, due to the toxicity of the alkaloid cytisine present in the plant, especially the bright red beans, it has predominantly been supplanted in use by Lophophora williamsii (Peyote), a small cactus (the family Cactaceae) growing in southern and western Texas and northern Mexico. Its flowers also smell like grape bubblegum or soda, when they appear briefly in the early spring! The beans have also been used decoratively, in jewelry and textile adornment, and have been found at archaeological sites across its range and beyond.

  • Profile Question 2
    When and why did you decide to go into a science career?

  • Answer the question you selected for profile question 2 here (300 words):
    I have always wanted to be some kind of scientist, since I learned about the concept at a young age. I eventually settled on ethnobotany as my primary focus-of-study, by about late elementary school, because I believe that plants are crucial to the continued survival of humanity, and I think it's important to respect and revitalize the diverse botanical knowledge of folks, for the sake of people and the planet as a whole. I focus on peoples and plants in the Texas and Mexico borderlands, because I feel that the ecotonal regions there (Chihuahuan Desert, Tamaulipan Thornscrub, and Edwards Plateau) are vastly understudied, and the history and livelihoods of the marginalized peoples there are not well understood, even by the descendants of the original ancestors. Plus, those borderlands are my home. They're most familiar to me, and I care deeply about the communities of people and plants that dwell within. It is my goal to use my nuanced training (and privilege) to help actualize science for the people. I want to share what I know, and continue learning from others, in order to collaborate and create botanically-oriented programs that present-day indigenous and Tejano borderland folks can benefit from themselves. But in order to accomplish that, collaboration and shared botanical passion is key. Hence why teaching and education, and access to science for all is so important to me.

  • Profile Question 3
    Do you have advice for students about preparing for a science career?

  • Answer the question you selected for profile question 3 here (300 words):
    Science is for everyone. Anyone can be a scientist. Science should not be locked behind the ivory doors of academia, behind money and privilege. Furthermore, there are many perspectives to science. While fact is based on what is known and observed, and critical thinking should always apply, there is no one way to go about doing science. I adhere to a multi-naturalistic perspective, personally, where people literally have different ways of experiencing their natural world. It is important to recognize that the "western" scientific approach is only one of many. The same goes for "western" bio-medicine, and dietary practices, which are often intrinsically related to plants. The most important think you can do, as a young scientist, is to be respectful, and listen. There is a difference between being having your learning and intellect talked over, and being open to new ideas. Don't stagnate, keep on learning, all you can, whenever you can. And don't be afraid to ask questions!

  • How did you hear about PlantingScience?
    Colleague/Friend

  • Availability
    I am NOT available, please temporarily remove me from the available mentor list

  • Capacity: How many teams at a time are you comfortable working with?
    4

Recent Posts

pvhsapplemanposfall2023 project 8 Char Farfadet

Hello Amasi, Dayson, and Aden!

I'm glad y'all are getting underway with your preliminary experiments! What do y'all think so far?

A little about me: I'm what you call a "paleoethnobotanist", which is quite a…

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pvhsapplemanposfall2023 project 7 Char Farfadet

Hello Danica, Crew, Ginger, and Tony!

I'm glad y'all are getting underway with your preliminary experiments! What do y'all think so far?

A little about me: I'm what you call a "paleoethnobotanist", which is…

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pvhsapplemanposfall2023 project 6 Char Farfadet

Hello Max, Darwin, and Aaron!

I'm glad y'all are getting underway with your preliminary experiments! What do y'all think so far?

A little about me: I'm what you call a "paleoethnobotanist", which is quite a…

more

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NSF_Logo.jpg This material is based upon work supported by the National Science Foundation under Grant #2010556 and #1502892. Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation.

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